a book of memories

Like I said in the flower crown post my mom turned the big five oh and I wanted to make it super special for her. As a small gesture I took the first photo that her and my step dad ever had taken together and blew it up and put it in a pretty frame. She had been wanting that for a while.

I don't know about you, but I feel like turning fifty is a pretty big deal. Fifty years to create memories, loves, relationships, children, and homes. My mom has lived a pretty full life and I know that sometimes it's hard to see how much you are loved. I wanted to show her. So, I decided to make a book of memories for her.

I had a photo book printed at my local photo shop and left every two pages blank so that I could paste tiny envelopes on them. I contacted as many people as I could think of that have loved my mother or that have been special to her in some way and I asked them for their favorite memory. For her birthday we all cooked her dinner and sat around reading the memories out loud to each other.

So many of them were about my mother standing up for them, so many were about her strength, her sense of humor, her ability to teach and hear and love and accept. If you read this blog I am sure you have gathered by now that my mom is a huge presence in my life and I am constantly more and more grateful for her. To hear all of these people's stories about my mother as a child or a young woman was more touching than I can express.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this gift. You all made a very special day for the beautiful Isabel! A special thanks to my Tia for helping me with translations, I couldn't have done it with out you! 

Happy Birthday Mama! I hope this little gift made you feel as special as you are<3

besitos,
rebecca

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Comments

[Helen]

This is so lovely. We tried to do a couple of photo albums like this for my Granny when she got alzhiemers but none were as lovely as this
http://ahandfulofhope.blogspot.co.uk

[Dorien]

Oh this is so beautiful! I actually want to do this now for my parents and even grandparents and actually everyone! Maybe I can make tiny versions for christmas :) Can you maybe tell me where you printed it? xo

[Bajo]

So creative, so special! Love it!

[Amanda]

dude I am a HUGE mamma's girl so I appreciate what you did for your own mom. Such a thoughtful gift. good job :)

[Kailey]

This is such an incredible gift, I can't wrap my head around it! So thoughtful and lovely of you <3

[Katie]

Oh, what a beutiful gift! The flower crown too. You've inspired me to make my own mama's next birthday extra special. I always struggle trying to think of gift ideas for her but I'm sure she'd love a book like this!

[Dus]

aww that is just wonderful, what a sweet gift with the pictures and absolutely perfect w/ the pages for all the written memories. I think far too often we wait to say all those until someone is near their end so I may just copy this idea for my own mom's next big day. I love seeing your family together and all the love : )